The records in this collection document the development, planning, administration, and operations of the Division of Technology and Security at South Dakota State University. The files reflect the evolution of computing services and information technology on campus and include material from various units such as the Office of Information Technology, Computing Services, the Vice President’s Office, Information Technology Services, and Classroom Technologies Services. Spanning multiple decades, the records offer insight into university-wide initiatives related to academic computing, infrastructure planning, student support, administrative operations, and faculty development.
The collection contains a comprehensive run of the Computing Services newsletter, many of which include subject indexes. Other materials include annual reports, technology strategic plans, budget documents, user manuals, training guides, and documentation related to major computing initiatives such as the Y2K preparations and response. Meeting minutes from the Computing Directors Council, Computer User’s Advisory Council, Computer Center Directors Council, and the Technology Affairs Council provide insight into decision-making and policy development. Also represented are Board of Regents-level plans and inter-university collaborations such as the Electronic University Consortium.
A significant portion of the collection focuses on classroom and instructional technology, including manuals, guides, audiovisual resource lists, and newsletters from the Instructional Media Center and Audio-Visual Center. Materials from the Student Computing Services unit include training manuals, handbooks, newsletters, orientation documents, and reports on student satisfaction and support. Technology training is documented through records of the Technology Training Team and Train-the-Trainer initiatives.
The collection also includes documentation on server infrastructure, campus network access, bandwidth analysis, virus protection, policy development, computer lab operations, and specialized planning such as the Strategic Information Technology Plan for a 21st Century Lead-Forward Land-Grant Institution. Additional topics covered include ergonomics, flexible work schedules, international student employment in IT, and the Student Technology Fellows Program.
These records are a resource documenting computing services and information technology planning in a higher education environment, reflecting the shift from mainframe computing to decentralized, networked systems and the growing integration of technology into teaching, research, and administration.